Bheeshma Explains What Is the Greatest Dharma
The next slokham: brahmanyam sarva dharmajjayam...
Brahmanyam brahmane hitham – well-wisher of Brahma.
Well-wisher of Brahmanas – the Brahmajnas, those who know Brahma.
Brahma is also tapas – he is a well-wisher of tapas.
Well-wisher and supporter of the scriptures called Brahmanas.
Sarva dharmajnaha –
Sarvaan dharmann jnanatihi sarva dharmachaha –
He knows all the Dharmas – both loukika and vaidika dharmas.
Lokanam keerthi vardhanam – being present in all living beings, he enhances their glory. The lokas became famous because of him. We know swarga to be swarga, bhuloka to be bhuloka, and patala to be patala only because of him, who is all-knowledge. He alone gives us the knowledge that these lokas exist.
Lokanatham – he rules, governs the world.
Mahath bhutham – paramaartha satyam – ultimate reality, Brahma.
Sarva bhutha bhavoth bhavam – sarva bhuthanam bhavah samsarah yatsakashat udbhavati tam – from whom the whole world originates.
Now Bhishma answers Yudhisthira’s fifth question:
Ko dharmaha sarva dharmanam paramaha?
Eshah sarva dharmanam adhikatamo dharmah iti me matah –
Which is the greatest of dharma?
Yath naraha bhaktya pundarikaksham stavaih archet –
Eshah sarva dharmanam adhikatamo dharmah –
The act of worshipping Pundarikaksha with stavas, stuthis, with devotion, is the greatest of dharmas.
The worship here is through stutis, stotras, praises.
Iti me matah – this is my opinion.
Pundarikaksha – one who resides in the heart and illuminates it.
Why does Bhishma say that praising him is the highest of dharma?
Hinsadi-purushantara-dravyantara-desha-kaladi niyama anapekshatvat –
Because it is not dependent on violence, others, materials, place, or time restrictions.
Dhyayann krite yajann yagna streyatham... –
What is obtained by meditation in the Krita Yuga, through yajnas in the Treta Yuga, through worship and archana (both internal and external) in the Dwapara Yuga – all that is obtained by sankeerthana, singing his glory alone, in Kali Yuga.
Japyenaiva tu... –
The Brahmin can accomplish his brahminhood only through japa, whether or not he performs his other duties.
Japastu sarvaha... –
Japa is the greatest of dharmas. So taking his name through stavas, stuthis, and japas is the highest dharma.
Lord says: yajnanam japa yajnosmi –
I am the japa yajna among various kinds of yajnas.
The other forms of worship – meditation, yajna, and puja – are more complex. They are not the simple, single solution that Yudhisthira is asking for.
For performing yajna, you need men and materials; sometimes sacrifice is involved. For puja, materials are required. Then there are complications like what can be used and what cannot be used. In all these three, there are restrictions with respect to place and time.
Even for dhyana (meditation), it has to be a quiet place. Even though you don’t need men and materials for dhyana, the surroundings have to be quiet. Time is important. Unless you are an accomplished yogi, you can’t meditate whenever you want.
So, the greatness of stuti or praising is that it is not dependent on men or materials, and it is not bound by place or time.
Stuti is the only simple method by which everything desirable is achieved – because of its simplicity. That is why Bhishma calls it the greatest of dharmas.
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Vishnu Sahasranama
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